Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
in-depth review -
All about that edge

3/22/2016 11:32:58 AM

All the niggles from the S6 edge have been ironed out and the S7 edge is now bigger- with more space to show off that seamlessly beautiful curved screen along side the waterproofing and expandable memory. Samsung have made sure this phone oozes kerb appeal and sophistication

- By Sunetra Chakravarti

Undoubtedly the most gorgeous phone on the market, the Galaxy S7 edge takes the blistering speed, great battery life and all thats amazing about the very efficient Galaxy S7 and wraps it into a package that wows and amazes in equal measure.

The dual-edge phone, the first in the World takes advantage of the beautiful Super AMOLED screen and makes the ‘Best phone for streaming media’ its own. Samsung have further made a big song and dance about their VR headset and it is a perfect fit for this phone.

I will not talk about the specifications of the Galaxy S7 that have been replicated on the S7 edge but talk about the main differences between the two.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: The edge and the screen

Invisible individual pixels, they are so closely stuffed together accentuate the edges and the viewing experience. Although the resolution is the same on both the phones, owing to the larger size of the S7 edge, the ppi (pixels per inch) count is marginally smaller. However, you will not be able to point it out- it is that marginal.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Battery

The S7 edge, again owing to a bigger size has a bigger battery, and this gives it more than a slight edge over its stable-mate. If you are to consume media over long periods of time on this phone, then owing to the Super AMOLED screen, you will power through the battery and even though fast charge comes as part of the deal, a bigger battery might just be the ticket to the last 10 minutes of The Night Manager on the train back after work.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Virtual Reality

Samsung bundled their Gear VR headset with pre-orders of the phone for free. And you can see why. LG are about to unleash the ‘G5 and friends’ come April and so Samsung wanted to be better prepared with a host of accessories that packed as powerful a punch. Slide the S7 edge into the VR headset, an automatic voice asks you to set up an account on Oculus.

Once your account is set up, you are able to download content and watch the clips, including a David Attenborough one on the set. Although not as immersive and pin-sharp as the HTC Vive (review on page 54), for those new to the world of VR in their front rooms, it is an incredible experience. Samsung have also tied up with Facebook to make the experience more social, so consumers can record VR videos on their 360 degrees camera and upload to Facebook. Just what we needed after those baby pictures!

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Verdict

Antutu benchmark for my Exynos-totting S7 edge yielded a score of 128721, a few thousand behind the Snapdragon-based version which tops the charts with 134599. Samsung have smashed it out of the park with the Galaxy S7 edge. Not only is it an incredibly stunning device, but it also has the most incredible specs and powerful creds and the camera is just something else.

If money is no object, this is THE phone to buy.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge: What's the difference?

As you can see there isn't much difference between the two flagship phones. Unlike the same size of the Galaxy S6 duo, Samsung have taken on Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus with the S7 edge with its 5.5-inch screen.

If you have decided to buy one of these two, you would have seen from our table that there is hardy any difference between the two phones except a £70 price gap. So, the only aspects of note that actually sets them apart are size and battery.

While the 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 is a conventional handset, the 5.5-inch S7 edge is more design-led, but the bigger size also gives it a much bigger battery which can be the deciding factor for many. If I had to pick between the two, the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge would get my vote.

It is an absolutely sensational product with the design, display and that wow factor that you would want if you were paying quite as much for a handset.